Download PROTECT 1203

PROTECT 1203
BUG DETECTOR WITH BARGRAPH
AND VIBRATING INDICATOR
USER MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
© 2003
PARTS DESCRIPTION
Side view
Battery compartment
TERMS
RF – radio field
Bug, bugging device – radiotransmitter that broadcasts information to
interested person(s)
FM – frequency modulation
AM – amplitude modulation
Antenna
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the Protect 1203 bug detector!
The Protect 1203 is a new device, which will detect different types of
radiotransmitting equipment and inform you by way of a bargraph
indicator or silently by a vibrating indicator. Currently there are a lot of
commercially available surveillance devices that allow you to pick up
different information from your office, apartment or car. These bugging
devices work within different frequency ranges and have different
modulation and scheme types. They may transmit using standard
modulation as well as non-standard.
According to the way of broadcasting, RF bugging devices can be
divided as follows:
•
FM and AM devices
•
Very narrow or very wide AM/FM modulation
•
Video transmitters
•
Digital transmitters with continuous carrier
•
Digital transmitters with storage, compressing and short-time
transmission
•
Spread-spectrum transmitters
•
Hopping transmitters (frequently changing frequency)
According to the sort of transmitted information RF bugging devices
can be divided into the following types
•
room or body-carried transmitters
•
telephone line transmitters, which start transmission when the
receiver is picked up
•
universal room/phone line transmitters, which work depending on
the phone’s receiver state (on/off-hook) and transmit both room
acoustics and phone conversations
•
vehicle transmitters (often with high power)
•
tracking devices or “car beepers”, which do not transmit
continuously
Front panel
The controls situated on the front panel of the Protect 1203 allow the
power to be turned on and off, the sensitivity to be adjusted and to
watch RF level.
The battery compartment is on the bottom side of the Protect 1203.
You may install any batteries of AAA size, including accumulators.
Alkaline batteries provide maximum working time.
The antenna on the rear panel receives the radio signals. Therefore
the antenna has to be extended, especially the first segment which is
the widest.
Front panel
Power
ON/OFF
Power ON
indicator
Sensitivity
adjustment
Bargraph
indicator
A blue LED on the left side indicates the working of the Protect 1203.
The Power button is situated to the right of the LED.
The bargraph indicator shows the total radio field strength at current
sensitivity.
The SENS is for tuning the sensitivity of the Protect 1203.
HOW TO PERFORM SWEEPING
The Protect 1203 can detect all of these bugging devices when in
active mode. You can test premises, cars or any items at all including
office equipment. You will also be able to check people for bodycarried transmitters. You may perform covert sweeping using the
vibrating indicator. In such cases you can carry the Protect 1203
about your person and stand in close proximity. If vibration starts near
a certain place, this indicates that the radio field is higher and there is
a RF device.
You will also detect if somebody uses a mobile phone. There are
known cases, when people have left their mobile phone off-hook and
all the conversation was transmitted to another phone or even
recorded onto an answering machine.
Preparation of the Protect 1203 for sweeping is very simple. First, you
extend its antenna, switch the power on and tune the sensitivity to
correct level. You then enter the room to be checked and begin to
move the device in all directions and watch the indicator. You can also
use the device in vibrator mode if secrecy is needed.
The housing of the Protect 1203 is made of a durable duralumin
material, which protects the device from being dropped, humidity and
other unfavourable conditions. Nevertheless it is not recommended to
store or use Protect 1203 in harmful conditions.
The Protect 1203 is powered by 2 AAA batteries or accumulators.
Alkaline batteries provide the device with 10 continuos working hours.
After discharging they can be easily changed using the screw on the
rear panel.
Preparation
Before starting sweeping, you should perform some preparations.
Firstly, it is necessary to consider the time of the sweep and the
situation. Since there are lots of devices that are remotely controlled, it
is recommended to carry out a sweep during working hours in real
situations, when the eavesdropper most wants to listen. It may be
necessary to arrange a fictitious meeting. Nobody has to know about
the pending search.
It is also advisable to turn on a source of sound such as a stereo
system or radio. This sound source has two very important functions:
1. Voice activated transmitters will turn on
2. Your actions will be masked
Sweeping premises
Close all drapes in the room. Turn on all the lights and activate any
other devices to imitate normal conditions. Before entering the room
turn on your Protect 1203 and extend the antenna to medium length.
Be sure that the first, widest segment of antenna is out.
Tune the sensitivity to the level when one segment on the bargraph is
on or blinks. If you do not wish to watch the indicator during the
search, you may tune the sensitivity to the level when every green
segment is on. In that case the vibrator will turn automatically when
the level reaches the first red segment of the indicator.
Below is the algorithm of sweeping:
(1) Enter the room holding the Protect 1203 vertically and watch its
bargraph display. Turn on and off the lights and other equipment
in the room. Watch for changes in the bargraph reading.
(2) Walk around the room while watching the bargraph display. It will
move up or down when your detector is closer or father to a
transmitting device.
(3) Locate the highest RF level in the room by moving the Protect
1203 in all the directions while watching the bargraph display.
(4) Probe all objects, which may contain a hidden surveillance
device. When you get close to a RF bugging device the bargraph
of your Protect 1203 will rise.
(5) Try to locate the exact position of the radio field source by
decreasing the sensitivity of your detector. If you shorten the
antenna, the level on the display will not depend on the relative
angle of the antenna and transmitter and you will have constant
reading near the RF device. The display may often show an
increased level near wires or metal objects. This may not be a
bug, but rather the metal acting as an antenna extension.
(6) When you have found the exact location of a high field, start a
physical search. Visually inspect and probe each object in the
highlighted area. Disassemble, if necessary, lamps, desktop
items, telephones, AC outlets, phone outlets. Inspect carefully all
power and phone lines. Open books, wardrobes, etc. Remember,
that a physical search is a fundamental operation during the
sweep.
(7) If you find a bugging device, do not stop! You should continue
the search more carefully as eavesdroppers often install more
than one device. They may install a so called “foolish bug” which
may be easily detected and some other good hidden devices that
may have remote control and non-standard modulation.
Checking telephone lines
Telephone bugs may be installed anywhere a phone line lays. It may
be within the phone set, the phone outlet, connecting box or cable.
Most telephone bugs activate only when the receiver is off-hook.
Therefore sweeping of phone lines is carried out only when the
receiver is in this state.
Start checking from the phone set. Place the Protect 1203’s antenna
near the set and lift the receiver. Watch for an increase of RF level. If
you are testing a wireless phone, you will see a strong radio field on
the display, as the phone uses radio communication between the
receiver and its base. There is no sense in testing radiotelephones for
bugs since the radiotelephone is a good bug itself !
Move the antenna along the phone line while keeping it off-hook.
Check all the outlets and communication boxes. If you have an
assistant, ask him to lift the receiver and then hang it up repeatedly. If
you see that the RF level changes when the line is activated and
deactivated, this is a sign of a bug’s presence. Try to locate the place
where the RF level is highest and then perform a physical search.
Testing people
There are many types of body-carried transmitters. They may
broadcast conversations and (or) video signals. To test a person,
tune the sensitivity to the level when all green segments are on. Carry
the Protect 1203 in a pocket or in the supplied case with the antenna’s
first segment extended and power turned on. Approach the person
while sensing the vibration of the detector. If it starts vibrating, it
means that the person is carrying a transmitting device.
Another way to test people is to place the Protect 1203 under a table
and extend the antenna towards the person targeted. Watch the
display carefully when the person approaches the table and sits down.
Detection distance
The detection range of the Protect 1203 depends on two major
factors:
1) Output power of the bug
2) The surrounding RF environment, such as radio/TV and
communication devices
The level on the display of the Protect 1203 will increase as you
approach a RF source. Either a surveillance transmitter or a safe
signal such as TV or radio can cause it to increase. Successful
location of a hidden bugging device is accomplished by finding the
area which produces the highest level on the bargraph of the Protect
1203.
SPECIFICATION
Frequency response
Power supply
Power consumption
with one green segment on
with all the green segments on
with active vibrator
Continuous operation
10 – 3600 MHz
2 x AAA / LR3 / R3
65 mA
80 mA
145 mA
Approximately
10 hours